Homecare Integral Support Program for IPF Patients

The proposed comprehensive IPF home care programme consists of: 1) improving patient's quality of life (autonomy, activity, emotional well-being and symptoms), 2) reducing the number and severity of side effects associated with the anti-fibrotic drug, 3) reducing the number of hospitalisations attributable to the disease, and 4) providing a rapid response to any problem associated with the disease (after diagnosis or progression) that may cause distress or require early action.

Inclusion criteria

• IPF patients with FVC > 50% and DLCO > 30%, in whom pharmacological treatment with nintedanib was started at least one month before the start of the programme.

Exclusion criteria

• Hospitalised patients or those who have been hospitalised in the previous month, due to any kind of respiratory exacerbation or due to any other respiratory cause.
• Patients who are under home care controls (PADES) as this implies an advanced stage of the disease (forced vital capacity [FVC] less than 50% and the diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide [DLCO] less than 30%) or, patients thathave a lack of autonomy due to comorbidities or respiratory failure
• Patients diagnosed in incipient phase who have neither symptoms nor limitation in their usual activities.
• Patients who have suffered any other life-threatening disease in the last 2 years, such as cancer or uncontrolled ischaemic heart disease.
• Inability to understand the information given to the patient, relating to the legal aspects of the informed consent.